For many suffering from mental health issues, obstacles such as perceived stigma, a lack of health insurance, and transportation can be major barriers to seeking appropriate treatment. To address this issue in Sonoma Valley, the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center (SVCHC) developed a one-stop shop for residents to receive comprehensive care in a place where they know they are safe, working with people that they trust.
SVCHC, recognizing the pressing need for integrated services, began transitioning to a model that could more holistically and efficiently serve all of their client’s health needs, including mental health. In 2014, the Community Foundation Sonoma County and our affiliate partner Sonoma Valley Fund, made a $100,000 capacity building grant through the Todd Trust to support this transition.
By increasing the number of bilingual mental health service providers, the funding has allowed the behavioral health department to provide greater access to mental health services for those who have Medi-Cal or are under or uninsured.
In addition to providing direct patient care and parity in mental health services, SVCHC is working collaboratively with partner nonprofits in Sonoma Valley to ensure that more education and support services are available to patients at the Health Center itself.
Community Foundation Sonoma County is proud to support SVCHC’s efforts to more robustly serve our more vulnerable residents with high-quality care to help them lead healthier lives.
